Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
100% Online | Designed for Working Professionals
Build Your Expertise & Become a Business Leader
Golden Gate University’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is our most advanced business degree for professionals who are ready to lead the future of business. Designed for working professionals, this rigorous program focuses on preparing graduates to drive the advancement of their professions and expand their knowledge of strategic business applications in today’s evolving workplace.
At GGU, you’ll examine cutting-edge business theories and practices, receive intensive training in research methods, and explore the impact of business on social and global issues. Your DBA program will culminate in a major research effort where you’ll conduct original research on a high-impact topic that helps illuminate the strategic issues facing your profession.
Learn from leaders who practice what they teach.
As a DBA candidate at GGU, your learning experience begins with our faculty: San Francisco and Silicon Valley business leaders. Our instructors bring practical industry knowledge from the field into the classroom to challenge our students with real-world business problems.
Go to school with other working professionals like you.
Because our programs are designed for busy professionals, one of the best things about GGU is the student body. With a wide variety of backgrounds, GGU students bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to enrich discussions and group projects.
About upGrad
upGrad is a leading global skilling and lifelong learning company that partners with Universities to deliver a range of online and hybrid skilling programs and certifications to consumers and enterprise partners. upGrad has delivered learning solutions and career outcomes through technology and teaching innovations to over seven million learners across the globe, since it was founded in 2015.
GGU has partnered with upGrad for their admission and academic support services. You will start the application process by submitting a pre-qualification form through upGrad’s platform.
Program Overview
100% Online Courses
56 Units
$1090 $536 per Unit* Tuition Cost
*after scholarship, for those who qualify
4 Career-Focused Concentrations
Learn From Bay Area Industry Experts
Gain Advanced Business & Leadership Skills
GGU has really lived up to its promise of offering real-world, practical learning that you will apply right away. I worked with wonderful professors, and I love that they brought their practical field experience to the learning process.
Curriculum
Students begin the program with three foundational courses:
- DBA 800: Doctoral Writing and Research Methods
- DBA 801: Quantitative Research and Analysis
- DBA 802: Qualitative Research and Analysis
After the foundation curriculum course work is completed, students must successfully pass a qualifying examination that will test their mastery of the skills and disciplines of doctoral-level research methods and analysis.
- DBA 810: Qualifying Exam
Students will complete one of the following concentrations:
- Business & Data Analytics
- DBA 850: Managing Data as an Asset
- DBA 851: Operational Performance Management
- DBA 852: Application of AI in Solving Business Problems
- Finance
- DBA 820: Corporate Finance
- DBA 821: Financial Theory and Applications
- DBA 822: International Finance
- Leadership & Strategy
- DBA 880: Leadership Theory, Research, and Application
- DBA 881: Leading Complex Change
- DBA 882: Strategic Leadership
- Marketing
- DBA 870: Marketing Management
- DBA 871: Consumer Behavior
- DBA 872: Digital Marketing and New Media
- General
- Select three courses from any of the concentrations listed above.
Students may take dissertation courses only after having first completed all required doctoral foundation coursework and having passed the qualifying examination.
- DBA 890: Dissertation Topic Proposal
- DBA 891: Dissertation Proposal Defense
- DBA 892: Dissertation Completion and Approval by Committee
50 Years of DBA
Golden Gate University’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program is proud to celebrate 50 years of academic excellence and professional impact. For half a century, the DBA program has empowered senior business leaders, consultants, and educators to advance their careers. With a curriculum focused on business theory, research methods, and global issues, our graduates have become thought leaders, contributing innovative solutions to contemporary strategic challenges.
As we commemorate this milestone, we honor the achievements of our alumni and reaffirm our commitment to producing graduates who not only excel in their fields but also champion ethical practices and global awareness. Here’s to 50 years of knowledge, growth, and transformation in the business world!
Why Choose GGU?
Industry-Experienced Faculty
At GGU, 80% of our faculty are scholar practitioners who currently work in the fields they teach. You’ll learn directly from experts who can share valuable insights into what today’s employers are looking for.
Small Class Sizes
With an average class size of 17 students, you’ll get a more personalized experience at GGU. Here, you’ll be able to collaborate with classmates and form lasting connections with your professors.
Flexible Lifestyle
We offer online and hybrid degree programs that are designed for busy adults. With 3 start terms per year and convenient 15-week courses, you’ll be able to manage your schedule the way you want while you balance school with work, family, and life.
World-Class Education
We’re committed to providing adult learners with the best education available. Our programs are accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), and GGU is consistently ranked as a top university for working professionals.
About Golden Gate University
At GGU, our mission is to help you build a brighter foundation for your future through higher education. As one of California’s oldest private and nonprofit universities, Golden Gate University has been focused on providing practical, career-focused degrees to working adults since 1901.
Over the past 25+ years, we’ve evolved to meet the needs of nontraditional students by offering flexible online and hybrid programs in the growing fields of business, finance, law, technology, taxation, and accounting.
Our location in the heart of San Francisco’s high-tech and financial district provides you with access to some of the world’s biggest companies — even as an online or hybrid student. Whether you’re ready to finish your degree, make a career change, qualify for a new job, or simply set yourself up for future success, Golden Gate University is here to help you make your goals a reality.
70K+
GGU Alumni Worldwide
98%
of Grads Recommend GGU
60+
Degrees Designed
for Working Professionals
Golden Gate University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
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